Brooke Shields discusses her LEAP OF FAITH experience...

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/6/11 at 11:17pm

Yikes. Doesn't sound like she'll continue with it.

"I was so intent on [originating a role] for the longest [time], but after that experience, I'm acutely aware now it has to be perfect for me to go out on that limb," she says. "If you replace, you have nothing to lose. It doesn't rest on you. They're just hoping you can keep it open. With a new show, you must be clear and know what you're getting into. I was a bit naïve about that. I'm able to keep coming back to Broadway because I do all of it well enough — but it's everything. If you take out one of those things and just compare me to the best in that field — whether it's dancing or singing or acting — I'm not going to win that battle. Take away two out of the three and leave me just singing in the spotlight, I'm going to lose. The role [in Leap of Faith] had virtually no dancing, no humor. I'm proud of what I did...but I think what they wanted was somebody above the title with Raúl. The show is all him, and he's so extraordinary in it, but what he needs around him is not just someone to get them in the seats. I felt fenced [in] through the whole thing, but I learned it's better to have learned that out of town."

edit: Just saw this was old. Still interesting. Updated On: 7/6/11 at 11:17 PM

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 7/6/11 at 11:33pm

I have a much better feeling about Brooke after reading this as she really was in over her head during the tryout at the Ahmanson last year. Everything she said about the experience was true and I applaud her. Loved her last comment "I felt fenced [in] through the whole thing, but I learned it's better to have learned that out of town."

And regarding Leap of Faith I'll be anxious to see if it comes to fruition after Menken's latest Twitter that they were going in a whole new direction whatever that means.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 7/6/11 at 11:42pm

I applaud her for being so honest and candid, but I saw LEAP OF FAITH and she was not the show's biggest problem. That would be a three-way tie between the God awful score, God awful book, and God awful direction/choreography.

It's unfortunate that the show's ill-fated tryout was blamed on her when she was merely an actor doing her job and giving a competent performance. She wasn't great, but I'd take her over pretty much anything else in the show.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/6/11 at 11:45pm

I love her authenticity. She completely owns her strengths. I'd actually love to see Brooke do a stint at Feinstiens or the Carlyle where she can tell stories, be herself and sing some tunes. She's as good a singer as Lynda Carter who does cabarets all the time. She's lived quite a life.

I hope "they're going in a new direction" means losing Raul. He's not a box office draw and his vibrato is an acquired taste.

Updated On: 7/7/11 at 11:45 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:18am

I love when people are just honest and upfront about things. That's refreshing, and I'm glad she put that out there.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:19am

I have had respect for Brooke for a long time and that interview added to my admiration for her. Saying they wanted a "name" to star with Raul is interesting coming from the name. I'm sure Brooke went into this with support from her director/choreographer and other creatives that though she was very different from others who workshoped the role, they could tailor the role for her, but Ashford, as the head of the team, was unable to do that (he had the same problem in his last two Bway outings). I hope the right project comes along for her, Donna Murphy was great in WONDERFUL TOWN but Brooke was perfect for that role also, and if she had originated that revival, she may have gotten the recognition she deserves. I think the new way of going will probably include Raul (though even He might be frustrated with this by now)but means the departure of the real killer, Ashford.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:28am

You're right, Curtain. There was absolutely nothing to the role. I believe she could have been terrific had they given her something to work with. Was it Kelli O'Hara who did previous readings, or am I mistaken?

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:39am

Sutton Foster did the second workshop I believe...

[Rudy2]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:44am

I don't like her acting, and still don't, but this has given me respect for her self-effacingness and professionalism.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 12:45am

They've both been involved with it. Sutton was in the 2010 reading (readings?) and Kelli did it several years back. Elizabeth Stanley did it, too. I think this is a much tougher role to get right than it seems, perhaps because it requires so much work to make what she needs to be out of problematic writing. I hope they'll fix it, because I think the Jonas/Marva relationship can be really interesting and something audiences can get invested in.

There's a new director and a new choreographer. If it happens, Raul will still be in it.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 9:38am

I hope they going in a new direction means losing Raul. He's not a box office draw and his vibrato is an acquired taste.

Raul's EVERYTHING is an acquired taste.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 10:38am

Curtain, I remember wondering why on earth they did an updated cast recording of the Wonderful Town revival with Brooke Shields. Then I actually saw her in the show and understood. When she's working in the right kind of musical role, she's magical. I'm almost tempted to see The Addams Family just to see what she could bring to that part. Almost.

[aliceidinabernadette]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 11:43am

It would have been interesting to see Elizabeth Stanley in the role, she and Raul had such great chemistry in Company, but I don't know enough about this show to make a judgement on if she's right for the role.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 7:28pm

My only hesitation with her is that I think she looks a little too young to believably have a 10-12-ish year-old son, unless she had him really young. Which I suppose is possible. But other than that, I think she would be really lovely.

Agree that Brooke was quite good in Wonderful Town! I was skeptical, but she won me over.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 8:13pm

Luv the... Who played Marva and who directed this last "twittered" reading.
I saw Stanley (up very close) in HELLO AGAIN and she certainly looks old enough to have a 12 year old child.
And she was great.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 8:46pm

The one Menken tweeted about a couple weeks ago? I have no idea about Marva. Sorry!

I love Elizabeth Stanley. I think she's beautiful and so talented. I'd be thrilled to see her get back with this show.

[bk]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 11:00pm

As someone stated, Brooke was hardly the problem with this show. In fact, she was the ONLY thing I liked about it - why? Because she was real, warm, and likable, while the rest of the show didn't know what the hell it was. Most of this can be laid at the feet of that productions endlessly cocky director/choreographer - when everyone, and I mean everyone is saying the same thing about your staging, then that's not the time to go back to NY and leave everyone in the lurch because YOU'RE happy with it. It was awful - all that Agnes de Mille crap - it's not what the show is about. But this is a director/choreographer who doesn't seem to know what any show is about. And then you had writers, both of whom I respect and like very much, who also didn't help Miss Shields.

She was the best thing about the show and yes they should all go in a brand new direction and it should be far away from Broadway until they get it right, IF they can get it right and the only way they can get it right is with someone at the helm who understands the material and is strong enough to take on the rest of the creative team. For now, if I want to see a musical of The Rainmaker, I'll see 110 In The Shade.

[egghumor]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 6:19pm

An extremely admirable statement from Brooke Shields. Now if only Rob Ashford could admit his weaknesses... I'm shocked every time he gets hired as a director-choreographer on any show, especially an original one. He stages revivals as if he has no faith in the original material, which regularly yields cringeworthy direction and choreography that's exhausting to watch.

I liked his dances for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, but it all went south when he was given the chance to direct. There was no one to reign in his need to over-choreograph and to have actors move without relation to character.

Updated On: 7/9/11 at 06:19 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 6:41pm

I really love Brooke. I always have, even when she was modeling jeans and lip gloss as a kid. This is why she has been a star and working actress for nearly 40 years, and she's only 46 years old. This is also why when she screws up at the Tony Awards, she's given a free pass and people still love her. (Goldie Hawn and Cher used to do that at the Oscars all the time, BTW.) She is as "real" as any Hollywood personality could be. Granted, that only goes so far, but she keeps it at a charming and sustainable level.

I love that she has an honest understanding of her strengths and her weaknesses, and I hope playwrights out there think of Brooke for their plays, if the part is right. I'd actually like to see her originate a non-musical role. A comedy where she could really shine. I wouldn't be surprised if she won a Tony someday. Perhaps even soon.